English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

1Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!

2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;

2On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.

3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

3By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,

4“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

4“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.

5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

5You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.

6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,

6Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,

7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

8My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

9My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

10Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

11For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

12“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

13All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.

14Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.

15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.

16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.

16Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

17“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

18I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.

19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

19My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!

20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,

20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.

21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

21Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

22“The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

23I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.

24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

24I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,

25Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—

26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

26before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

27I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

28I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.

29when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

29I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,

30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

30I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

31And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

32“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

33Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

34Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,

35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

36but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

36But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.